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I was one of Guisbert's students for the 1990-91 school year, his first year teaching. We had been in contact occasionally through the years, and when I learned about his diagnosis, I wanted to tell the public his story.

I interviewed Guisbert in late April at Cape Canaveral Hospital on a day a port was being put into his chest so he could start chemotherapy.

What stood out to me was his calmness. He tackled it like you’d expect a science teacher to — in a matter-of-fact way.

Karen Guisbert shows new surfers how get up when catching a wave. 300 students ages 12-19 are attending the four day Club Zion Surf Camp in Cocoa Beach. The camp includes a morning devotion, surfing, lunch and more surfing. The students come back at night for live music and fun, always stressing a positive message to the campers. MALCOLM DENEMARK/FLORIDA TODAY

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He told me so many incredible things, including this about being in the classroom with cancer: “My students have gotten quite an education. They’ve learned to ask me on a scale of 1 to 10 how I’m doing, and so many kids have relatives that have gone through cancer and it’s just really been a bonding experience for all my students.”

He was teaching until the end.

On May 7, Jefferson Middle School dedicated the pond behind the school in his honor with a ceremony and a permanent plaque. Along with teaching at the school for 27 of his 28-year-career, he ran the school’s fishing club since the mid-90s.

“At one point I had over 100 kids,” Guisbert recalled. “It was neat.”

Guisbert was born in Michigan and his family moved to Brevard County when he was 4, in 1971.

He was a student at Jefferson (then-Junior High) from 1979-81. He went on to Merritt Island High School, graduating in 1985. Guisbert attended University of Central Florida, where he received a biology degree with a minor in education.

“I was going to try to be a doctor, but the life-or-death decisions scared me, and I said no,” he said.

Jefferson Middle School science teacher Scott Guisbert was a student at Jefferson from 1978-81.(Photo: PROVIDED PHOTO)

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I wanted to know what kept him teaching all these years.

His answer was honest and simple: “The aha moments. I can take very complicated things and simplify them.”

Guisbert was only 22 when he took his first teaching job at Divine Mercy Catholic School on Merritt Island. This is where our paths first crossed. I was an eighth grader, and he was a big influence on me that year.

Guisbert is survived by his three daughters, Caroline, Gabi and Maddie, his wife, Karen Boothby Guisbert, and her children Noble Bevis and Ivo Worth, and grandfather to Ivy Bevis and Dax Worth.

Just one week ago, on July 19, he was able to muster the strength to stand by Caroline as he gave her hand in marriage.

Guisbert estimated that he had taught around 10,000 students in his career.

That means 10,000 students were better for having been taught by Mr. Guisbert.